Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
What is Borderline
Personality Disorder (BPD)?
Borderline Personality Disorder or BPD is a mental health condition in which people might experience some of the following symptoms:
- Emotional dysregulation: Their emotions can fluctuate often and to a significant degree and/or they can have disproportionately intense bursts of anger.
- Interpersonal difficulties: Having relationships which are very intense and unstable, and/or feeling very fearful of being abandoned.
- Identity disturbance: Having an erratic/changeable sense of self and/or chronic feelings of emptiness.
- Behavioural disruption: Engaging in risky impulsive behaviours (such as, substance use, binge eating, spending recklessly) and/or engaging in suicidal/self harming behaviours.
- Disrupted response to stress: Becoming paranoid or feeling especially spaced out in response to stress
How is BPD treated?
One of the most effective and well-researched treatments of BPD usually is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). DBT incorporates a wide range of strategies for better understanding and managing emotions, distress and relationships. It is very practical and has shown to be very helpful in stabilising people’s mental health. A DBT approach teaches skills which target the following areas:
- Mindfulness; being present and building awareness
- Improving emotion regulation skills
- Tolerating distress more effectively
- Improving relationship and communication skills
Other therapies have also been shown to be effective in treating BPD including Mentalisation Based Therapy (MBT), Schema Therapy, and trauma interventions to treat some of the underlying factors related
to BPD.
How We Can Help!
At Cova Psychology, we have a special interest in BPD, and have a number of therapists who are passionate about working in this area. If you or a loved one have a BPD diagnosis or are struggling with some of the above symptoms, psychological treatment with a therapist experienced in treating BPD can help. If you’d like to explore booking in for an appointment with a Cova therapist get in touch with our friendly reception team by:
Our therapists are available for both face to face and telehealth sessions.
